Alfred Waterhouse's building, completed in 1887, remains a proud symbol of the city. Its imposing halls, host to a range of statuary, city council staff and civic wedding ceremonies, are usually, but not always, open to the public - ring ahead to check.

Visitors are normally free to visit the ground floor Sculpture Hall (which also hosts occasional art exhibitions) and, on the first floor, the Great Hall, which features a noted series of 12 Ford Madox Brown murals. Still home to numerous council offices, much of the rest of the building is closed to the public for security reasons, but guided tours are available by appointment from the Visitor Information Centre.